Category: Get to Know CGMGA
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CGMGA Spotlight: Beth Flake
Beth grew up in Austin, Texas, an environment that she describes as ever changing and challenging for gardening. Her mother had many indoor plants, but the climate was inhospitable for outdoor gardens. Beth’s mom “always had a garden and it always struggled.” Beth remained in Texas into her mid-40’s. She and her husband David attempted…
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Award recipients
Master Gardener of the Year* 1996: Fred and Patricia Paige* 1997: Anna Nolen * 1998: Shirley Chrisman / Elizabeth Daniel * 1999: Roxanne Spoonable* 2000: Scott Fitch* 2001: Jean Hadley* 2002: Angela Bridges* 2003: Colleen Garrabrandt* 2004: Patricia Paige 2005: Sandi Rousseau 2006: John Ihle 2007: Dede Garcia 2008: Anne Saxby / Rita Saling 2009:…
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CGMGA Spotlight: Anne Debbaut
Spotlight on Anne Debbaut: A Journey from Engineering to Master Gardening Anne Debbaut’s journey is a testament to the power of following one’s passions, even when they lead down unexpected paths. Despite not coming from a family of gardeners, Anne has always had an eye for landscape designs, colors, and plant types. Her early fascination…
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CGMGA Spotlight: Sandy Montag
Nothing is permanent except change. This statement by the ancient Greek philosopher Heraclitus is probably as true today as it was in 500 BC when the world was still flat and orbited by the sun. And today, just as there were then, there are those who resist change and others who view it as an…
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CGMGA Spotlight: Tracy Willet
This month’s Spotlight features the many facets of Columbia Gorge Master Gardener Tracy Willett. Tracy grew up in a New England community. When asked about her earliest gardening memories, she remembers that her parents grew “a few rose bushes and rhododendrons.” During World War II, her father was sent to work manufacturing DDT. She specifically…
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CGMGA Spotlight: Christine Purvis
From August 2024 This past year has been busy and exciting for Christine Purvis, her husband, Sam, and their sons, Asher and Eliot. They recently moved from Portland to Hood River to find outdoor adventure here in the gorge. When Christine is not homeschooling her boys, she is learning about her new hometown, enjoying outdoor…
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CGMGA Spotlight: Christie Bradley
From May 2024 Born and raised Hood River, local Christie Bradley enjoys gray diggers, animal rescue, pickleball, hiking, biking, and engaging in community alliances through Master Gardeners. She lived several places in Washington, Colorado, and Oregon, but was able to move back to Hood River when her husband got a job at Google in The…
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CGMGA Spotlight: Jen Munroe
From June 2024 Jen Munroe may be a relative newcomer to CGMGA, but her garden speaks of a seasoned gardener with a flair for blending diverse styles and elements into a harmonious whole. Before I met her, I had the pleasure of “meeting” her garden: an inviting oasis that offers water features, flowering trees, and comfortable…
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CGMGA Spotlight: Jayne Hill
From April 2024 As a Pacific Northwest native, Jayne Hill is grateful to have grown up in a beautiful part of the country with an appreciation of the nature that surrounds us here. Jayne was born in Yakima but moved to Corvallis at nine years of age. After high school she studied biology and then pharmacy.…
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CGMGA Spotlight: Anne Saxby
From December 2023 A longtime resident of Hood River, Anne Saxby became interested in the Master Gardener program after enjoying several years of MG garden tours. Anne joined the program in 2005, the year that Hood River separated from Wasco County and established the Central Gorge Master Gardener Association. Anne’s interest in horticulture started years…